BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), on children with pleural complications of necrotizing pneumonitis (NP). METHODS: Prospective evaluation of seven patients aged from four to seven years, with necrotizing pneumonitis and pleural empyema diagnosed by computerized thoracic scan. They were treated by debridment, resection of the compromised lung tissue and thoracic drainage, using a three port video-assisted surgery. RESULTS: Expansion of the incarcerated lung, disappearance of fever and leucocytosis within the first postoperative week. The chest tube stayed in place from 7 to 17 days. CONCLUSION: Although there are only few patients in this series, our study suggest that VATS is as efficient in the treatment of NP as open surgery. VATS also causes less pain and allows a shorter hospital stay when compared to open surgery.
Pneumonia; Necrosis; Empyema, pleural; Thoracic surgery, video-assisted; Child
